U.S. patent number 7,502,819 [Application Number 10/476,044] was granted by the patent office on 2009-03-10 for dynamic browser interface.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Consultores UB57, S.L.. Invention is credited to Antonio Used Alonso.
United States Patent |
7,502,819 |
Alonso |
March 10, 2009 |
Dynamic browser interface
Abstract
A dynamic browser interface that is designed to increase
information search speed and capability and to make the search more
intuitive. It has three basic elements: a multidimensional
arrangement and presentation system (1) that is used to generate a
navigation map (2): and to represent in at least more than one
dimension the following items on the navigation map (2): access
nodes (3); multiple categories (4) which are associated with each
of the nodes (3); sensory designs (6) such that each node (3) is
associated with the corresponding categories (4) thereof and
symbols of the operators (11) on the nodes (3) and categories (4).
It also includes a system for pre-selecting and visually searching
for information (9) that is designed to provide operators (11)
(Boolean, Venn, conditional, etc.) with a way for preselecting the
desired nodes (3) and categories (4) and a system (7) for
presenting the requested information (8) that provides the user
with the information found (18) in a new navigation map (for more
in-depth categorization), or a combination of both.
Inventors: |
Alonso; Antonio Used (Zaragoza,
ES) |
Assignee: |
Consultores UB57, S.L.
(Zaragoza, ES)
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Family
ID: |
8498089 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/476,044 |
Filed: |
June 14, 2002 |
PCT
Filed: |
June 14, 2002 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/ES02/00298 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
October 28, 2003 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO02/103556 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
December 27, 2002 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20040210819 A1 |
Oct 21, 2004 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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|
|
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Jun 15, 2001 [ES] |
|
|
200101399 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
709/203;
709/219 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F
16/957 (20190101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06F
15/16 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;709/201,203
;705/27,15,26 ;701/201 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Andrews K., et al. Towards rich information landscapes for
visualizing structured Web Spaces:. En: Proceedings. IEEE Symposium
on Information Visualization '96 (Cat. No. 96TB 100083). Editado
por: S. Card et al. Los Alamitos, CA, USA, Oct. 28-29, 1996. ISBN
0-8186-7668-X. cited by other .
Munzner T., et al. "Visualizing the structure of the World Wide Web
ind #D hyperbolic space". En: 1995 Symposium on the Virtual Reality
Modeling Language (VRML '95). Editado: New York, NY, USA: ACM,
1996. p. 33-8, 138 of 139 pp. 10 refs. ISBN: 0-089791-818-5. cited
by other.
|
Primary Examiner: Avellino; Joseph E
Assistant Examiner: Taha; Shaq
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Collard & Roe, P.C.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, compatible with at
least one interface selected among visual, acoustic, tactile,
olfactory interfaces and combinations thereof, allowing a user to
access information according to at least one criterion selected
among categorization, ordering, systematization and sectoring
criteria and combinations thereof, this system wherein:
multidimensional ordering and presentation system (1) to generate
at least one navigation map (2) previously to launch a query,
having means to distribute and display help elements on the
navigation map which help accessing the information, these help
elements comprising: a plurality of information elements (3, 4)
selected from among: a plurality of information access nodes (3)
which allow individual access to the information represented by
each one; a plurality of dimensions comprising categories (4) to
which each node (3) may be associated, these categories (4)
including sub-categories (5) which derive from the various
information levels of a categorization resulting from a deeper
categorization; wherein the different dimensions are distributed in
an Euclidean space of at least two dimensions, and the methods to
implement said graphic differentiation or categorization in an
automatic manner include linear programming algorithms and tools
which allow a graphical representation of at least two Euclidean
dimensions; wherein a subset of said information elements (3,4) or
all of these incorporates a system for pre-selection and visual
search of information (9) which includes at least one activation
operator (11) for the search process, and it also includes search
operators (13) to allow preselecting at least one information
element (3,4); sensory designs (6) selected among graphic, audible,
tactile, olfactory designs and designs which can be perceived by
the user, complying with at least the requirement that each
information access node (3) is associated by means of said sensory
designs (6) with each and all categories (4) with which this node
is associated; a system (7) for displaying information (8) which is
activated after receiving at least one information selected among:
the requested information (8), at least one event related to said
information and combinations thereof; with said system (7) for
displaying the requested information (8) having means to show the
user at least one presentation selected from among: the requested
information that has been extracted; as many subsequent navigation
maps that may derive from the various categorisation levels
corresponding to a deeper categorisation; invoking the
multidimensional ordering and presentation system to generate
subsequent navigation maps; and combinations thereof; wherein the
system for pre-selection and visual search of information (9) with
means allowing a subset of information elements (3, 4) or all of
these to be pre-selected and allow access to the information
relative to said information elements (3, 4), so that the result of
the query complies only with the pre-selected information elements
(10); the search operators (13) allow pre-selecting at least one
information element (3, 4) so that the result of the search
corresponds to the criteria established by said search operators
(13), selected from among algebraic, Boolean, Venn, conditional,
quantitative, ordering or truncation operators, these operators
determining criteria for the information search and combinations
thereof.
2. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1,
wherein the activation operator (11) for the search process which,
when activated by the user, generates a query file (12) containing
the pre-selected information elements (10).
3. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 2,
wherein in order to activate the operators (11, 13) the system for
pre-selection and visual search of information (9) is provided with
man-machine interfaces, among which are first means selected among
a keyboard, mouse, voice, touch, allowing interaction between the
user and the system (14), and combinations thereof, as well as
second means selected among combinations, repetitions, sequences
and frequencies of activation of said first means, to activate said
operators (11, 13).
4. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 2,
wherein the query file (12) generated when activating the operator
(11) that activates the search process contains the search
operators (13) relating the pre-selected information elements (10)
as an additional parameter for establishing the search
criteria.
5. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1,
wherein the navigation map (2) includes one or more areas (15) from
where it is possible to activate the aforementioned operators (11,
13).
6. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1,
wherein the navigation map (2) consists of at least one computer
file which includes the parameters defining said navigation map (2)
in a format compatible with the user's system (14).
7. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 6,
wherein the file or files forming the navigation map (2) are
written in at least one format selected among the following: html,
xml, wml, jpeg, gif, bmp, mov, avi, mp3, mpeg, way, java, text,
image, sound, video, smell and touch.
8. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 6,
wherein the file or files forming the navigation map (2) reside in
one or more locations selected among: the user's system (14); a
remote system (16, 17), so that said files are sent to the user's
system (14) from said remote system (16, 17); a combination of the
above locations (14, 16, 17).
9. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1,
wherein the means of the multidimensional ordering and presentation
system (1) for generating the navigation map (2) include linear
programming algorithms whose calculations consider elements
selected among: information access nodes (3), categories (4), areas
(15) of the navigation map (2) meant for operators (11, 13),
configuration parameters, restrictions of the above elements,
constraints among them, graphical criteria and combinations
thereof.
10. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1,
wherein the means of the multidimensional ordering and presentation
system (1) for generating the navigation map (2) resides in one or
more locations selected among a remote system (16, 17), the user's
system (14) and a combination of these locations (14, 16, 17).
11. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1,
wherein the system for pre-selection and visual search of
information (9) is provided with sensory stimulus means selected
among visual means, auditory means, tactile means, olfactory means,
means appreciable by the user and combinations thereof, in order to
intensify or dim by at least one degree of intensity those
information elements (3, 4) which are pre-selected (10) or
unselected by the user in the navigation map (2).
12. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 11,
wherein the system for pres-election and visual search of
information (9) means include at least one computer routine written
at least partially in an event-oriented programming language, so
that said routine is invoked and executed by said events.
13. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 12,
wherein the computer routines of the system for pre-selection and
visual search of information (9) are invoked by events selected
from among: positioning events on the navigation map (2),
displacement events on the nv2, time events, user segmentation
events, previous navigation states and combinations thereof.
14. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 12,
wherein the computer routines of the system for pre-selection and
visual search of information (9) reside in at least one location
selected from among: the user's system (14) a remote system (16,
17), so that these routines are downloaded from a remote system
(16, 17) and executed in the user's system (14), a combination of
the above locations (14, 16, 17).
15. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 12,
wherein the computer routines of the system for pre-selection and
visual search of information (9) are written, at least partially,
in at least one programming language selected among Visual Basic,
Visual C, C and Java.
16. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information according to claim 2,
wherein the query file (12) is written in a language selected among
SQL, DB2, Access, text, languages oriented to accessing databases
(17) and combinations thereof; and it is generated by the system
for pre-selection and visual search of information (9) by executing
at least one computer routine written, at least partially, in a
programming language selected among Visual Basic, Visual C, C and
Java.
17. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 16,
wherein the query file (12) is processed to extract the requested
information (8) in at least one location selected among the user's
system (14), a remote system (16, 17) and a combination of the
two.
18. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system to access information, according to claim 1,
wherein the system (7) for presenting the requested information (8)
acts as a sequential state machine dependent on parameters selected
among: the information found (18) corresponding to the current
state of the search; previous search states (19); type of
information extracted; user segmentation (20); time parameters;
configuration parameters of the system for presenting the requested
information and combinations thereof.
19. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1,
wherein the system (7) for presenting the requested information (8)
is provided with at least one computer routine able to process,
after receiving it, the data file (8) containing the requested
information and events related to said information, so that it is
possible to display on the user's system (14) a presentation
selected among the requested information, a new navigation map (2)
and a combination thereof.
20. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system access information, according to claim 19,
wherein the computer routines of the system (7) for presenting the
requested information (8) are written, at least in part, in at
least one programming language selected among Visual Basic, Visual
C, C, and Java; and wherein said computer routines can process the
data file (8) containing the requested information in a language
selected among SQL, DB2, Access, text, and languages oriented
towards accessing databases (17).
21. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1,
wherein as an extension of the basic operation of the invention
there is a model of operation in parallel consisting of a plurality
of navigation maps (2, 21, 22) where it is possible to select at
least one information element (3, 4) of at least one of the
navigation maps (2, 21, 22) to allow a combined information search,
according to the criteria specified in at least one of the
navigation maps (2, 21, 22) that are simultaneously available.
22. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1,
wherein as an extension of the basic operation of the invention
there is a model of operation in series wherein, by means of a
sequential state machine, a selection of information elements (3,
4) belonging to a navigation map (2) generates in turn a subsequent
navigation map which can in turn generate as many subsequent
navigation maps are required to increase the depth of
categorisation; the subsequent navigation maps depending on at
least one parameter selected among: information found corresponding
to the current state of the search; previous search states (19);
content of the extracted information; user segmentation (20); time
parameters; system configuration parameters and combinations
thereof.
23. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1,
wherein as an extension of the basic operation of the invention
there is a model of simultaneous-independent operation wherein at
least two navigation maps (2, 21, 22) operate simultaneously in a
conditioned manner, so that when the user changes the pre-selection
state of the information elements (3, 4) of at least one of the
aforementioned maps (2, 21, 22) the content of at least one of the
remaining navigation maps (2, 21, 22) also changes.
24. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 21,
wherein as an extension of the basic operation of the invention
there is a combined operation mode consisting of combinations of
the above-described operation modes in order to create multiple
complex systems.
25. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 21,
wherein the individual operation of each navigation map of the
operational models described above is basically the same as that of
a navigation map (2) operating independently, except that each
navigation map (2, 21, 22) communicates with the other navigation
maps (2, 21, 22) by means of a system of interruptions managing a
message queue, where a plurality of messages are stored containing
information related to the form of mutual interaction of the
navigation maps (2,21,22).
26. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 25,
wherein the messages for communication among the navigation maps
(2, 21, 22) consist of messages selected among commands, files and
a combination thereof including at least one indication selected
among: the map of origin of the message, the destination map of the
message, information, requirement and combinations thereof.
27. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system accessing information, according to claim 1,
wherein both the information elements (3, 4) and the sensory
designs (6) are spatially distributed in a navigation map (2) to
form figures which use analogies selected among real and abstract
figures, logos, corporate images, elements of corporate images,
natural systems, artificial systems, figurative, conceptual,
simple, complex, random, cause-effect and combinations thereof.
28. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1,
wherein when moving on the navigation map (2) an element selected
among a mouse pointer (23), a cursor, a joystick and a sensory user
interface, positioning it on or near an information elements (3, 4)
at least one additional information area (24) appears consisting of
an indication selected among text, image, sound, color, tactile
sensations and combinations thereof related to said information
elements (3, 4).
29. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 28,
wherein the additional information area (24) appears by means of at
least one computer routine written, at least in part, in at least
one event-oriented computer language selected among Visual Basic,
Visual C, C, Java and event-oriented code; so that when the user
positions an element selected among mouse pointer (23), a cursor, a
joystick and a sensory user interface on or near an information
elements (3, 4) the aforementioned program or programs are invoked
and executed.
30. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1,
wherein the information access nodes (3) are organised into
multiple "dimensions" corresponding to categories (4) which can
overlap each other, so that each node (3) can belong to at least
one category (4).
31. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1,
wherein the information access nodes are organised into open
categories (4), where said nodes (3) are categorised according to
at least one criterion for categorising information access nodes
(3) that can be both dependent and independent.
32. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 31,
wherein the categorization criteria are based on relations between
the information elements (3, 4) to be classified, these relations
being selected among relations of order, geometrical, spatial,
affinity, chronological, alphabetical, priority, qualitative,
quantitative, sequential, methodological, group, ideological,
functional, temporal, mathematical, physical, chemical, Venn,
simple, compound, conditional, functional, constructive, of origin,
of brand, limited, unlimited, direct, by analogy, by criteria, by
the graphical content supporting them, by characteristics of the
elements, by the relations between the elements inferred directly,
by the relations between the elements inferred indirectly and by
combinations thereof.
33. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1,
wherein to implement a graphical differentiation corresponding to a
categorisation of the access information nodes (3) are used
elements of Euclidean space of at least one dimension, combining
them with resources selected among sensory designs (6), graphical
resources, color codes, textures, patters, thickness, flashing,
increased visibility, reduced visibility, graphical-visual
relations among elements and combinations thereof.
34. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1,
that wherein the multidimensional ordering and presentation system
(1) of the navigation map (2) allows both inserting and superposing
advertising elements (25) in certain areas of the navigation map
(2); these advertising elements (25) being selected among
advertising elements (25) of indiscriminate nature and segmented
nature (20), in which case they are intended for a specific target
public.
35. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 34,
wherein the computer routines of the multidimensional ordering and
presentation system (1) of the navigation map (2) communicate with
a remote system (16, 17) which stores advertising contents (25) to
convey to the remote information system (16, 17) information
relative to search historical records (19) and user navigation
habits, so that after processing said information the remote system
(16, 17) can send to the user's system (14) advertising elements
(25) adapted to the user's navigation habits, so that they are
incorporated to the navigation map (2) by the multidimensional
ordering and presentation system(1).
36. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 9,
wherein the linear programming algorithms that allow a graphical
representation of at least two dimensions, are selected among
Euclidean spaces, algebraic spaces, straight lines, curves, complex
lines, flat surfaces, surfaces of revolution, ruled surfaces,
imaginary spaces, finite functions, infinite functions,
discontinuous functions, and combinations thereof, so that the
overlaps and dependence constraints among the information access
nodes (3) and the categories (4) are included in the navigation map
(2).
37. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 11,
wherein the computer routines of the system for pre-selection and
visual search of information (9) process computer files compatible
with the interfaces in charge of transforming these computer files
into sensory stimuli selected among visual, auditory, tactile,
olfactory stimuli, stimuli perceivable by the user and combinations
thereof.
38. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1,
wherein the computer routines of the system (7) for presenting the
requested information (8) allow processing and displaying the
content of the computer files in at least one format selected among
text, image, sound, video, tactile, olfactory and combinations
thereof.
39. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 11,
wherein the intensification and dimming of the pre-selected and
unselected information elements (10) includes, at least, one level
of intensity selected among total illumination, partial
illumination, totally off, totally enabled, partially enabled,
totally disabled and partially disabled.
40. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1,
wherein this navigation system is provided with at least one
editable configuration file allowing the user to select among
various sensory levels of man-machine accessibility depending on
his/her preference and handicaps, the sensory accessibility levels
selected among levels of size, color, brightness, contrast, volume,
language, touch, smell and combination thereof.
41. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1,
wherein this navigation system operates within a browser from which
it is possible to invoke this and other search engines operating in
the browser can be invoked.
42. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1,
wherein the system for pre-selection and visual search of
information (9) is provided with at least one fixed or configurable
computer file establishing the ordering criteria for the
information to be shown after being found.
43. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1,
wherein the system for pre-selection and visual search of
information (9) is provided with at least one computer routine
allowing the user to establish the order in which the information
requested (8) is shown after being found, by means of search
operators (13) associated to the information elements (3, 4) whose
information is to be ordered.
44. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information according to any of
claim 42, wherein said operation obeys at least one ordering
criterion selected among: the title of the information, the content
of the sections into which the information is divided, visible key
words, non-visible key words, words contained in the information,
discrimination by plurals, by capital letters, by accents and by
combinations of these criteria.
45. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information according to claim 42,
wherein the ordering criteria are attached to the file including
the search criteria, so that after receiving said file the database
where the information resides proceeds to order the information
which complies with the search criteria.
46. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1,
wherein the system for pre-selection and visual search of
information (9) is provided with at least one fixed or configurable
computer file establishing the criteria for truncating the set of
information to be shown which comply with the search criteria.
47. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1,
wherein the system for pre-selection and visual search of
information (9) is provided with at least one computer routine
allowing the user to establish the criteria for truncating the set
of information to be shown which comply with the search
criteria.
48. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 46,
wherein the truncation obeys at least one ordering criterion
selected among: the title of the information, the content of the
sections into which the information is divided, visible key words,
non-visible key words, words contained in the information,
discrimination by plurals, by capital letters, by accents and by
combinations of these criteria.
49. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 46,
wherein the truncation criteria are attached to the file including
the search criteria, so that after receiving said file the database
(17) where the information resides proceeds to truncate the
information which complies with the search criteria.
50. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information, according to claim 1,
wherein the multidimensional ordering and presentation system for
the navigation map is provided with means allowing the user to move
all or part of the navigation map (2) in order to show or hide
parts of it; this movement being selected among translating,
rotating, approaching, distancing, separating, joining and
combinations thereof.
51. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information according to claim 50,
wherein the navigation map (2) has a spheroid form provided with at
least one movements selected among translating, rotating,
approaching, distancing, separating, joining and combinations
thereof.
52. Computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for a
navigation system for accessing information according to claim 50,
wherein the functionality of moving the navigation map (2) is
supported by computer routines written, at least in part, in at
least one programming language selected among Visual Basic, Visual
C, C and Java.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Applicants claim priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119 of Spanish
Application No. p 200101399 filed on Jun. 15, 2001. Applicants also
claim priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.365 of PCT/ESO2/00298 filed on
Jun. 14, 2002. The international application under PCT article
21(2) was not published in English.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The present invention means to solve or minimize the drawbacks and
disadvantages of current navigation interfaces that allow
requesting, searching and displaying information requested by the
user from an information system (such as the Internet, although the
use of the invention is by no means limited to the Internet, as
explained further below).
The drawbacks solved by the Dynamic Navigation Interface of the
invention are, among others, the following: Using ordering methods
with a single criterion (affinity, order or group relations,
functionality, etc.) to categorise menus and information in
general. Use of tree structures to order information, with the
corresponding limitations. Non-optimised categorisation and
categorisation problems when an element belongs to more than one
category (overlap) or when there is no element in one of the
corresponding categories, leading to confusion, redundancies,
non-optimised navigation, non-optimised information and memory
tools, etc. High click-through ratio (number of mouse clicks on
links) or number of accesses or sequences required to access an
information unit. This is a result of the need to access various
successive categorisation menus until the final element is reached.
This high number of clicks hinders navigation and access to
information by the user, at times preventing it in practice (due to
technological infrastructure problems, such as a network or modem
bottleneck or to categorisation difficulties). A need in certain
cases to scroll in order to access links or categorised menus,
which are hidden due to an excessive length or area of the
information on the screen. Impossibility of performing simultaneous
categorisation by more than one dimension or criterion, which
reduces the power and speed of the presentation, search and access
to contents. Ordering criteria are limited or lack affinities or
relations (multidimensional, content related, mathematical,
semantic, symbolic, ideographic, geometric, visual, aesthetic,
etc.), which by a visual and multidimensional categorisation
provided by the present invention would be solved. Most pages
include text elements to present and guide the contents, so that
they are tiresome, counterintuitive and slow (as the text must be
read first) and are limited to users able to read in a certain
language or without eyesight difficulties or other handicaps which
limit access to information. Temporary or permanent health
disorders or physical or psychological disorders due to an extended
exposure accessing the information unit, to the effort required to
navigate in text-based systems, to radiations, etc. Return to the
previous menu or to the home page by links or areas (such as
buttons, banners, etc.) limited or generally belonging to the
Internet browser or the external application of the information
system, hindering the operation of accessing information. Cross
navigation is hindered, or at best implies a high number of mouse
clicks and/or selections and accesses with return load times to the
point of the junction (or point of union of the branch containing
the first element and the branch containing the second element
searched) of the hierarchy tree formed by the Categorisation,
Ordering, Systematisation, Sectoring and Segmentation criteria
(hereinafter COSSS), and further clicks in the direction of the
information searched for according to their COSSS criteria.
Although it is true that in certain cases this problem is solved by
including crossed links, this association is not always intuitive
for the user (as they are text-based and generally located in odd
positions of the screen area, or at times even out of sight),
segmenting the navigation habits for these reasons and requires
design efforts by the webmaster. Memory load of a full new page
takes place after accessing the link with a high implication of
performance and time, connection costs, productivity, need for
technological infrastructure, efficiency of the Internet server or
of the information server accessed. It is difficult for the user to
know the location of the site he/she is in at each time, its
relation with other information points and how to access these
directly. Although this can be achieved by a site map, available in
certain sites, these maps do not solve this limitation fully nor do
they have all the advantages of the invention disclosed. They
generally have an alphabetical order or a tree structure. The
information and interaction capabilities are organised linearly or
by nodes (with a tree structure) so that it is necessary to access
the content of the information to be aware of its interest, use,
properties, functionality, etc. Thus, a blind navigation takes
place where little qualitative or quantitative information is
offered on the information element before it is accessed or
activated. An issue of great relevance is that accessing through
link nodes is currently only performed one by one; that is,
pre-selection or simultaneous access to more than one information
node or link is not possible. The present invention intends to
solve this problem providing a multidimensional screen for multiple
connection and pre-selection. Simultaneous or parallel
(multidimensional) comparison of information elements or of the
characteristics of these is hindered or prevented, requiring
successive access and in certain cases return accesses, which
implies additional disadvantages of time and cost.
Thus, the Dynamic Navigation Interface of the present invention
provides a number of advantages which can benefit both users of
information access systems and those commercialising these systems,
as well as third parties: Benefits to the user of an information
system provided with the Dynamic Navigation Interface of the
present invention: Faster and more efficient navigation. Navigation
is facilitated as the text content is reduced, providing COSSS
information (Categorisation, Ordering, Systematisation, Sectoring
and Segmentation) by visual, sensory, mathematical, semantic,
ideographic, graphic or implicit symbolic information. More
enjoyable, relaxed, comfortable and intuitive navigation,
facilitating interaction with the information. The optical laws
that rule the human brain allow discriminating more easily the
desired information units by means of colour codes, patterns and
optical codes in general, resulting in a reduced hassle and fatigue
for a given amount and density of information. Shorter information
download and access time compared to current information search and
access systems: If T1 is the time taken for a standard page to
download from its server with the current technique, the total time
required to access a page located at a depth level n in a tree
structure is n.times.T1. If T2 is the time taken to download a page
with the present invention, and T3 is the time taken to select the
various visibility and enabling levels for the various elements or
categories according to the present invention (generally
T2>T1>T3), the total time required to access a page at a
depth level n is T1+T2+n.times.T3, so that after a certain number
of accesses n>"N of intersections of these functions" the
invention proposed allows saving time compared to the current art.
Accessing pre-categorised and pre-selected nodes and links means
that the possibility of accessing an incorrect link (when a
different content was expected) is reduced. This error would imply
a time cost of 2.times.t (path travelled and returned). Allows
creating modular download times, in accordance with downloading of
graphics with modular and selectable complexity. Provides
information with a higher absolute power, as it informs of a
greater number of characteristics or dimensions on the information
element to be accessed. It also provides information that is richer
and has greater depth on the characteristics of discriminated,
undesired or not selected elements, increasing efficiency. Greater
quality, power, depth and richness of information. Lower
click-through ratio (number of mouse clicks on links). Greater
amount of information presented in a given time of search session
and query. Greater amount of information per unit surface on
screen. Possibility of accessing information when it is otherwise
difficult or impossible in practice (such as with eyesight or
language barriers). Link nodes can provide more information on the
corresponding information element without having to activate them.
Recognition of information units is facilitated firstly by an
intuitive navigation and secondly by the visual-sensory memory.
Also facilitated is the recognition and instantaneous location of
information elements by means of their geometrical-visual-sensory,
mathematical, semantic, ideographic, graphic or implicit symbolic
relations. After the user pre-selects the categories or information
elements of interest, the free area of the screen increases
greatly, thereby also increasing the possibilities and value of the
advertisements which can be presented (greater area and greater
visibility), and the amount and quality of the information. The
functional power of the data base is increased by optimising the
ordering, pre-selection and search criteria. Benefits for the power
marketer derived from an information system provided with the
Dynamic Navigation Interface of the present invention: The site (or
Internet site) will have an improved presentation and appearance.
Problems of overlapping of information elements are solved, as it
is possible to categorise simultaneously by more than one criterion
or dimension. Allows showing a greater quantity of information per
unit surface (information density), as it is possible to obtain a
greater quantity, depth and richness of the information presented
so that the physical, functional, constructive, brand, sector,
group or any other characteristics are visually and intuitively
displayed. Allows personalising and auto-configuring of the site
according to the various information COSSS criteria. Allows a
greater analogy and use of all types of visual and sensory
elements. Increases and improves branding and marketing
possibilities, allowing a greater and more qualitative use of the
logos, ideas, concepts, benefits, strategies, value proposals,
competitive advantages and differentiation elements among others.
Improved integration of publicity and sponsorship of the site,
providing increased efficiency. It facilitates and optimises
sponsorship and promotion of sites both directly and indirectly, by
an increased scope of analogies and synergies. Opens novel forms of
co-operation with partners from diverse fields, reducing previously
existing barriers by new forms of creativity and creation of
analogies (such as a ski resort hosting a renowned event lending
its trail map as a navigation system for a sports clothing company
during its winter season, so as to heighten its athletic character
and sports support). In view of the above aspects, it is possible
to increase the productivity of the site by: Increasing
competitiveness and variety of sponsorship forms Opening the market
of sponsorship and promotions (previously closed) to inter-sector
and intra-sector promotions (as the offer is increased),
establishing win-to-win situations in which both parties benefit by
allowing previously impossible or unlikely affinities Increasing
the value and effectiveness of sponsorships and other promotion
forms and thereby the productivity of the site (or Internet site).
Reduced investment in systems and content costs by optimising the
traffic density and download time by the user per unit of
information presented, among others. Increased traffic due to the
advantages offered to the user, and thereby also increased
productivity and benefits of the site. Increase in the number of
potential users of the site due to the greater ease and speed of
access for a given technology (modem speed and download rate per
information unit). The Dynamic Navigation Interface is also
compatible and complementary with current technologies (used
partially, totally or alternatively). Benefits to third parties of
the Dynamic Navigation Interface of the present invention:
Increased possibilities for institutions, organisms or entities of
all types with rights over intellectual property, personal or real
estate property or property of any other type to provide both
content and business platform, as these rights can be
commercialised by providing the power marketer with a graphical
platform analogical or relevant to the marketer of information and
product or contents, integrating these third parties within the
value chain (for example, a ski resort (third party) hosting a
renowned event lending its trail map as a navigation system for a
sports clothing company (marketer) during its winter season, so as
to heighten its athletic character and sports support). Increased
awareness, popularity and impact for businesses with graphic and
artistic rights (intellectual property, artistic property, etc.) by
users accessing the information system (such as the aforementioned
ski resort with its trail map, or the Subway system with its
station and lines map) which would otherwise have a limited impact
and promotion. The value of banners is also increased by their
greater visibility (one of the priorities of advertising in
general) due to increased possibilities of creative integration
with analogies, colour codes, visual effects, etc. It is expected
that the invention will greatly increase the click-through ratio
(number of mouse clicks made on links) of the banners. As the
invention is fully compatible with the use of ad-servers (complex
segmentation programs will allow a banner (optionally with a link
to the advertised site) to be downloaded, integrated and displayed
on screen depending on the user profile according to the navigation
habits), it allows the value of the banners to be increased
substantially by segmenting the target public.
For the above reasons, the system disclosed represents an evolution
of current COSSS (categorisation, ordering, systematisation,
sectoring and segmentation) systems based on menus and traditional
groupings in information technology systems where a greater or
improved COSSS (categorisation, ordering, systematisation,
sectoring and segmentation) is desirable or needed. The advantages
of the examples described for purposes of illustration in the scope
of the Internet are not limited in any way to the use of this
technology, as the Dynamic Navigation Interface of the present
invention is also applicable to other technologies, such as PDA
type terminals, mobile telephones, teletext, agendas, PC menus,
program menus, computer programs in general both online and
offline, extranet and networks of all types, data bases, interfaces
between systems, applications for multimedia terminals, for
selecting peripherals and sources, information switching stations,
telematics applications, supports of new applications being
developed or to be developed (optical books, tables of contents,
virtual guides, etc.), integrated navigation systems (for cars,
combining car management, net access and services), integrated home
systems (appliances, central management alarms) control switches
and switches of all sorts, programming languages or operative
systems, portals of all types and processes associated to them,
digitally controlled systems with the aid of SUI (sensory user
interface) and MMI (Man-Machine Interface) (visual, acoustic,
olfactory, touch screensi etc.). In addition, the invention is
presented as a perfect complement of Internet search engines, and
can even replace these for searches in closed groups. Their partial
inclusion in a web page can also enrich and increase the depth of
the contents provided.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the current state of information technology, reading and
obtaining said information and contents is achieved by means of
elements such as sites, Internet portals, web pages, menus (which
can be more or less dynamic), links, time routines based on the
coordinates of a pointer (a technique known as "overmouse" by which
different messages appear depending on the spot at which the mouse
click is pointed), banners (or publicity elements which can also
serve as links to the advertised element), pop-ups (or activation
of new contents, windows, Internet micro-sites, etc.)
The information is shown on web pages in text and/or graphical
format, occasionally including audiovisual means and use of
memory.
In order to read, select, browse and access the information and its
contents, links are used which join a key text or image with the
access node for the corresponding information. Said links may be
associated to different elements and be in different formats: text
(letters, words or phrases) which are indicative of the information
they refer to, icons, images, ordered in a menu format, presented
with individual headings . . .
In this way, navigation is currently based on text or linear
environments, which are generally not intuitive or visual.
In addition, the combined effect of the number of mouse clicks
necessary to search for and access the desired information and the
technology installed by the user (with a limited download speed),
makes searching for and accessing the desired information
difficult, as current systems of uni-dimensional categorisation are
insufficient, demand an additional reading effort, produce an
environment that is tiring for the user and limits the
possibilities of marketing and promotion of the advertised brand in
an Internet site.
Worthy of note among the background of the present invention is
document U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,126, which describes a Graphical User
Interface for a Database System to represent a search in a
database. Said invention presents a plurality of Venn diagrams,
each one representing an intersection of at least two sets. For
each generic graphic icon, the user chooses a selection of at least
one region, defining a set of outgoing data, said generic graphic
icons presented on the graphical user interface as modified
graphical icons, each of them showing a graphic indication of the
selections, and receiving, from the user, the information regarding
the existing links between the modified graphic icons to represent
an inclusion characteristic composed by said sets based on the sets
of outgoing data and on the information links. Once the search is
defined, it can be translated if required for its execution by a
normal search engine. The extracted results can be quantified and
classified by the interface systems for an optimum presentation to
the user.
Also worthy of mention is document U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,331 which
deals with a System and Method for Graphical Display and Automatic
Information Extraction of multiple documents for their
visualisation. The information is pulled out from a group of
documents according to a series of predefined categories. The user
is presented with a visual representation of the extracted
information and he/she may apply one or more filters to said
information in order to produce a visual representation of the
filtered contents of said information.
Lastly, although with a lesser degree of relevance, document U.S.
Pat. No. 6,134,564 may be cited. This document describes a Computer
Program for quickly creating and altering presentations of
parameterised text data objects and their associated graphical
images. This invention provides simplified interactive means for
naming categories or parameters associated with each text data
object, assigning values to each parameter for each text data
object to associate graphic images and/or audio files with each
text data object, and allows the user to view a categorised and
ordered list of the selected text data objects.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an evolution of current systems for
Categorisation, Ordering, Systemisation, Sectoring and Segmentation
of the information (hereinafter "COSSS"), facilitating and
improving the creation, categorisation, presentation and search of
the information, as well as broadening the possibilities of
advertising and promotion within a system for searching and
accessing information.
The computer readable medium encoded with a computer program for
the Dynamic Navigation Interface of the present invention is
composed of three main elements: Ordering and Presentation
Multidimensional System to generate the Browsing Map.
Its basic mission consists of effectively distributing and
representing in a navigation map all the necessary-and helpful
elements for accessing the information: Information access nodes
(which not only allow individual access to the information that
each represents, but also, the possibility of pre-selecting a
plurality of said nodes, so all information regarding a set (union,
intersection, selective, etc.) of said nodes can be accessed.
Multiple categories (or multiple "dimensions") and subsequent
subcategories to which each of the said nodes is associated.
Sensory motifs or designs (graphical, auditory, tactile, olfactory)
or sensory affinities required to associate each node by means of
said graphic designs or sensory affinities with each and every one
of the categories to which said node belongs, and Optionally, the
symbols corresponding to the operators (algebraic, Boolean, Venn,
Conditional or of any other type) which allow the pre-selecting
one, part or all of the information access nodes as well as their
categories and/or subcategories, so that the result of the search
will not consider elements which point to undesired
information.
With the inclusion of categories related to the information access
nodes within the navigation map itself, knowledge of part of the
nodes information is possible without having to access it, since in
the same navigation map the categories with which each node has
been associated are shown implicitly.
The methods for implementing the Multidimensional Ordering and
Presentation System to generate a Navigation Map include,
optionally, Linear Programming algorithms and tools which take into
consideration all the nodes, categories, subcategories, the
operators associated to each node, as well as their parameters,
constraints and restrictions, and also graphic, sensory,
mathematical, ideographic, semantic, symbolic, artistic or
marketing criteria.
After it is created the navigation map is downloaded by means of
computer files in a format compatible with the user's browser.
System for Pre-selection and Visual Search of Information:
Its basic mission is to endow the operators (algebraic, Boolean,
Venn, conditional or any other type) whether located on the
navigation map or implicit in the operation of the mouse pointer
(or equivalent element) with the necessary functionality to allow
pre-selecting one, part or all of the information access nodes as
well as one, part or all categories and/or subcategories before
accessing the information indicated by said elements. The
pre-selection the user carries out is displayed on the navigation
map by means of sensory intensification or dimming (visual,
auditory, olfactory) in varying degrees of intensities of the
elements pre-selected or un-selected (elements such as information
nodes, categories and/or subcategories contained in the navigation
map).
The methods for implementing the System for Pre-selection and
Visual Search of Information consist of routines or programs
written in event-oriented programming languages, so that they are
ruled, optionally, by the pre-selection events activated by the
user, by the position of the mouse pointer (or equivalent element)
and, optionally, depend on a time function. Said routines or
programmes can be either contained in the layer of the navigation
interface residing in the user's terminal, or can be downloaded to
said terminal from the navigation interface layer residing in the
information provider's system.
An optional element of the System for Pre-selection and Visual
Search of Information is a "Go!" button which, when activated by
the user, sends the query itself according to the pre-selected
elements (information nodes, categories and/or subcategories).
The query consists of the sending a computer file (to the
information provider) containing all the requirements for the
search. The means to carry out said query are routines or
programmes which (in a language compatible with the database to be
accessed) write a file with all the pre-selected elements (as well
as any other information which may considered of interest), so that
the information requested from said database can be extracted and
sent to the user who requested it to be displayed, with all search
and COSSS criteria and their relationships remaining implicit
and/or explicit.
(The process of extracting the information from the database is not
part of the present invention). System for Presenting the Requested
Information:
(Once the navigation interface's layer residing in the user
terminal receives all the information supplied by the provider),
its basic purpose is presenting to the user: The information
extracted (which conforms to the criteria defined by the System for
Pre-selection and Visual Search of Information). A new navigation
map (to configure a deeper categorisation) again invoking the
Multidimensional Ordering and Presentation System to generate the
subsequent Navigation Map, or A combination thereof (the extracted
information and a new navigation map).
The means for implementing the Presentation of Requested
Information System include a routine or program which operates as a
sequential state machine and, as such, operates in view of the
present state of the search, of previous states of the search and
of the type of information extracted.
Dealing in greater depth with each of the aforementioned elements
of the invention, it is worth nothing that the Dynamic Navigation
Interface allows navigation based on a sensory interface (graphic,
auditory, etc.), where: The information elements (categories and
information access nodes):
can represent information of different nature within a same
navigation map, and are presented in form of shapes, images or
geometrical or sensory images, by means of their spatial
distribution, affinity or sensory association, using analogies with
real or abstract representations of elements such as: logos,
corporate images or elements thereof, general representation of
systems, whether natural or artificial, figurative or conceptual,
simple or complex, random, cause-effect or within appreciable
ranges of other sensory stimuli.
Furthermore, and as an aid prior to searching for information, the
user can optionally use additional information elements which
appear when positioning the mouse pointer (or equivalent element)
over certain elements (nodes, category or subcategory), providing
(in one of the embodiments of the present invention) additional
information regarding the content of said element, sub-maps and, in
general, time and/or sequential routines, if in the end the search
were to take place; this makes it possible to save time since it
allows discriminating information before accessing it, or accessing
it more selectively due to the optional activation of deeper COSSE
layers and possibilities of pre-selection and selection. The
information access nodes are organized within open or closed
categories:
This is, their categorisation is according to one or various
criteria, dependent, related or independent of each other. This is
a multidimensional categorisation, where said dimensions or
categories may overlap with each other and may or may not be
linearly independent. Categorisation of the information access
nodes takes place by means of graphic elements according to one or
more simultaneous criteria or dimensions (multi-dimensional):
Said categorisation criteria are based on relations between the
elements to be classified. These relations may be of various types:
mathematical, of order, geometrical, spatial, affinity,
chronological, alphabetical, priority, qualitative, quantitative,
sequential, methodological, by group, ideological, functional,
temporary, numerical, physical, chemical, by Venn relations, simple
or complex, conditional, functional, constructive, by origin, by
brand, limited, unlimited, by criteria, relations or
characteristics of the elements or by their relationship amongst
each other inferred directly or indirectly from the
graphical-visual content supporting it, directly or by analogy,
etc. To implement a graphic distinction or categorisation of the
access nodes:
Elements of the Euclidean Space of any dimension are used,
combining them with any type of graphic or sensory resources,
particularly colour codes, textures, patterns, thickness, flashing,
resources to increase or reduce general visibility, sensory
visual-graphic relationships between elements (geometrical, by
contrast, by analogy, etc.) and Euclidean geometry in general.
Likewise used are sensory inputs such as sounds, associated
frequencies and sequences and combinations thereof. It also
includes the use of sensory impulses associated with pre-selection
levels in the sensory fields of taste, smell and touch, already
being developed in the field of virtual reality and "MMI" (Man
Machine Interface). Although the method of implementing said
sensory impulses is not part of the present invention, sensory
impulses are perfectly manageable by the present invention as long
as the adequate transducers are available to allow transforming
informatic contents (1's and 0's ) into elements appreciable by the
human being (images, sounds, smells, etc.) The Multidimensional
Ordering and Presentation System to generate a navigation map in
which access nodes are shown categorised or differentiated from the
rest. Said navigation map can be generated automatically (through
programming) according to the type of information to be shown, to
the previous search states or to certain configuration parameters
established by the user, the provider or both.
The methods to implement said graphic differentiation or
categorisation in an automated manner include Linear Programming
algorithms and tools which allow a graphical representation of
multidimensional Euclidean and algebraic spaces such as flat
surfaces, surfaces of revolution, ruled surfaces, complex curves,
imaginary spaces, infinite and discontinuous functions, etc., so
that the overlaps and dependence constraints among categories,
subcategories and information access nodes are included in the
navigation map. All or some of the elements which comprise the
Multidimensional Ordering and Presentation System can be either
contained in the navigation interface layer residing in the user's
terminal, or be downloaded to said terminal from the navigation
interface layer residing in the information provider's system. The
Multidimensional Ordering and Presentation System to generate the
Navigation Map also allows the inclusion of advertising or
commercials in certain areas according to the segmentation carried
out for each user profile (using files known as "cookies" which
contain information about the user's search habits and which are
read by servers called "ad-servers" in charge of inserting adequate
advertising elements in the areas of the navigation map intended
for this purpose). As mentioned when describing the
Multidimensional Ordering and Presentation System to generate the
Navigation Map, the symbols corresponding to the operators
(algebraic, Boolean, Venn, conditional or of any other type) which
allow pre-selecting the desired elements, do not necessarily have
to be displayed in said navigation map. In such a case, and
according to one of the possible embodiments of the Information
Visual Search and Pre-election System to pre-select, unselect or
carry out any operation with a given information element, it is
enough to approach the mouse pointer (or equivalent element) to
said element and use one of the buttons of said mouse (or any input
peripheral associated to a Man-Machine Interface or Sensory User
Interface) by means of different combinations (click, double-click,
sequence and/or operating frequency of said buttons) corresponding
to each of the possible operations on each of the elements
(category and information access nodes).
The means in charge of supporting all of this functionality include
routines and programs written in event-oriented programming
languages residing within the Pre-selection System. In one of the
possible embodiments of the invention, the Information Visual
Search and Pre-selection System has event-oriented routines or
programmes which, when positioning the mouse pointer (or equivalent
element) on a certain category or information access node, will
endow the element with mathematical functions which could be
operated like the rest of the operator of said Pre-Selection
System. In this way it is possible to select nodes or categories
along with quantitative entities (such as price, number, weight,
etc.). In another of the possible embodiments of the invention,
when prioritising, ordering or weighting the importance of the
different extracted information elements after the search is
carried out, the Information Visual Search and Pre-selection System
has routines and programmes which allow (separately or in combined
manner): The user to establish the order in which the information
(result of the search) should be displayed by establishing a
sequence or order of priority for each of the information access
nodes (or a subset of these). The system itself to order or
truncate (up to a maximum number) the information (result of the
search) by means of a series of evaluation criteria (configurable
or fixed) among which are: the content of the information heading,
the content of the sections or categories in which said information
is classified, "key" words (visible or not) contained in said
information, discrimination by plurals, capital letters, accents,
etc.
In both cases, the means supporting said functionality include
routines and programmes which attach to the text file containing
the rest of the query data, the ordering, prioritisation or
sequencing data written in a language compatible with the database
to be accessed. In this way, when the database receives said file
it will have all the necessary information to extract the requested
information in an orderly and/or prioritised manner, in accordance
with the specifications established by the user or the system. As
previously described, while the user is carrying out the
pre-selection of the elements (categories and information access
nodes) with which to carry out the search, the Pre-Selection system
displays the elements the user is pre-selecting (or unselecting) in
the navigation page by a sensory intensification or dimming
(visual, auditory, olfactory, etc.) of said elements in varying
degrees or states. Said states include, at least: total or partial
illumination, total or partial shut-off, total or partial enabling
or disabling, etc. and direct access to the information pointed to
by an information access node. The Dynamic Navigation Interface
also has editable configuration files allowing the user to select
among different sensory levels of man-machine accessibility, both
qualitative (visual, auditory, etc.) and quantitative (sizes,
colour, brightness, contrast, volume, language, etc.) to be used
depending on the user's preferences or handicaps. The Dynamic
Navigation Interface may be integrated within a traditional Browser
endowed with the "Bookmarks" function, so that accessing this
function of the traditional browser would invoke routines and
programmes for calling the Dynamic Navigation Interface of the
present invention, which would either be directly executed (if the
Interface resides within the user's system), or would connect with
the navigator's provider system for downloading to the user's
system (if the Interface does not reside within the user's system).
Finally, it should be highlighted that as the Dynamic Navigation
Interface manages information stored in a digitalised form (1's and
0's), the type of information that said Interface is able to manage
includes, among others: text, images, audio, video or any other
type of information that can be transported by electronic,
magnetic, optical, radio-frequency means or by any other
method.
As an extension of the basic operation of the invention described
at the beginning of the present section, the following Dynamic
Navigation Interface operation models can also be described:
Operation in Parallel:
Whenever two or more navigation maps allow selecting elements
according to multiple types of categories or selection criteria. As
this is a multidimensional system, these categories may be
categorised themselves into super-categories (with their
corresponding overlaps and dependency relationships), and so on. In
this way, a combined search can be carried out according to the
criteria specified in one, several or all of the navigation maps
available simultaneously. This leads to a greater searching power.
Operation in Series:
Corresponds to a dynamic system where a selection of information
elements (nodes or categories) activates, in turn, another
navigation map, which depends on the selection. This second
navigation map is generated by the Multidimensional Ordering and
Presentation System once it has been invoked, in turn, by the
Requested Information Presentation System, which as previously
explained is implemented by means of a sequential state machine or
program which, as such, operates according to the type of
information extracted, the current previous search states and other
parameters such as configurable and fixed parameters, depending on
time elapsed, on position of the mouse pointer (or equivalent
element), etc. Dependent Simultaneous Operation:
Whenever two or more navigation maps or sub-maps operate
simultaneously in a conditioned manner; that is, whenever one or
several such navigation maps change content depending on the
pre-selection state of the elements (category and information
access nodes) established by the user in one of the other maps.
Combined Operation:
Allows the combination of any of the previously described
operations and the implementation of multiple combined complex
dynamic systems, provided with a capacity to calculate, pre-select,
select and categorise with an exponentionally growing search
power.
The previously-described means for implementing the operation
models are identical to those described above for the operation of
the system based on a single navigation map, with the exception
that each of the sub-systems that include each of the said
navigation maps communicates with the rest by means of a system of
interruptions and/or message queue which manages the messages
between said sub-systems.
These messages consist of text files specifying at least one of the
following elements: subsystem of origin of the message, destination
subsystem of the message, information to be provided to the
destination subsystem and queries sent to the destination subsystem
of the message.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Next are provided a set of drawings meant to aid a better
understanding of the text, which form an integral part of it and,
for purposes of illustration only in a non-limiting sense, show
certain aspects of the invention.
FIG. 1 shows a navigation map created for a restaurant chain
offering Chinese and Indonesian cuisine, in which graphic designs
display the relations existing between the various dishes
(information access nodes) and the various ingredients, types of
cuisine, etc. (categories), as well as several search
operators.
FIG. 2 shows the navigation map of FIG. 1 where the user has
pre-selected the ingredients "vegetables" and "duck" with the
Intersection search operator, and where the dish "3 delights rice"
has also been individually pre-selected.
FIG. 3 shows a flow chart showing the part of the information
request, search and presentation process within the scope of the
present invention, as well as the basic processes involved.
FIG. 4 shows a navigation map created for a brand of watches, in
turn divided into two navigation sub-maps. As there are Go!
operators for activating the search process for each navigation
sub-map and for the navigation map encompassing both it is possible
to carry out searches according to the criteria established in one,
the other or both navigation sub-maps.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
As the present invention is applicable to a great variety of areas
or systems (listed above at the end of the "Object of the
Invention" section), this section describes one of the possible
embodiments of the present invention, applied to the Internet,
without this implying any limitation of other embodiments of the
invention. In order to aid the understanding of an embodiment of
the invention corresponding to a Dynamic Navigation Interface for
using the Internet to access information regarding the dishes
offered by a chain of restaurants serving Indonesian and Chinese
cuisine, the following are taken as premises: There exist 7
different dishes: Chinese food: Oriental duck (made with duck and
rice) Peasant's duck (made with duck and vegetables) Imperial duck
(made with duck, rice and vegetables) 3 delights rice (made with
rice and vegetables; this is a vegetarian dish and it is possible
to order half a portion) Indonesian food: Roasted Pig (made with
Pork, Rice and Vegetables; it is possible to order half a portion)
Vegetable plate (made with vegetables; a vegetarian dish) Oriental
Pig (made with pork and rice).
The information to be displayed (not represented in the figures)
can consist of a more detailed description of each dish (calories,
etc.) together with its price and various methods of payment, if
finally ordered.
The Dynamic Navigation Interface (see FIG. 3) of the present
invention (known as "Visual Finder") consists of three main
elements: A Multidimensional Ordering and Presentation System (1)
for generating the Navigation Map (2):
Its main purpose is to distribute and display effectively on the
navigation map (2) of the restaurant's web page (shown in FIG. 1)
all information and help elements (3, 4) for accessing the
information, to wit: The nodes (3) for accessing the information,
or the menu dishes (which allow both individual access to the
information represented by each one and the possibility of
pre-selecting a plurality of such nodes (3) (or menu dishes), so
that all the information regarding a set (union, intersection,
selective, etc.) of such dishes can be accessed. The various
categories (4) or dimensions, such as ingredients (rice, duck,
etc.), type of cuisine (Chinese or Indonesian), possibility of
ordering half a portion, and the subsequent subcategories (5)
associated to each dish (3) (see FIG. 1). The sensory designs (6)
(graphical, auditory, olfactory, tactile, etc.) required for each
node (3) or menu dish to be related by said sensory designs (6) (in
this case graphical designs) with each and every category (4) to
which said dish (3) belongs (as its ingredients, type of cuisine,
etc.), and Optionally, the symbols corresponding to search
operators (13) (algebraic, Boolean, Venn, conditional or any other
type) allowing to select one, part or all dishes or information
access nodes (3), as well as their categories (4) and/pr
subcategories (5), so that the result of the search does not
include the information elements (3, 4) leading to a menu
information that is not wanted.
Including categories (4) relative to information access nodes (3)
within the navigation map (2) of the restaurant chain allows
knowing part of the information on the dish without having to
access it, as the navigation map (2) shows implicitly the
ingredients, the type of cuisine, etc. associated to each dish.
The means for implementing the Multidimensional Ordering and
Presentation System (1) used to generate the Navigation Map (2)
include algorithms and linear programming tools which consider all
nodes (3), categories (4), subcategories (5), the operators (13)
associated with each node (3) (menu dish) and their parameters,
constraints and restrictions, as well as graphical, sensory,
mathematical ideographical, semantic, symbolic, artistic or
marketing criteria.
After the navigation map (2) for the restaurant chain has been
created it is downloaded by means of computer files in a format
compatible with the user's browser. These files can be written in
the formats html, xml, wml, jpeg, gif, bmp, mov, avi, mp3, mpeg,
wav, java, text, image, sound, video, smell and touch. System for
Pre-selection and Visual Search of Information (9) (see FIGS. 1 and
2):
Its basic purpose is to endow search operators (13) (algebraic,
Boolean, Venn, conditional or any other type), whether located in
the navigation map (2) or implicit in the operation of the mouse
pointer (23) (or equivalent element), with the required operability
to allow pre-selection of one, some or all information access nodes
(3) (or menu dishes) as well as of one, some or all categories (4)
and/or subcategories (5) before proceeding to the information
access pointed to by said elements. The pre-selection made by the
user is presented in the navigation map (2) by means of a sensory
intensification or dimming (visual, auditory, olfactory, etc.) in
varying degrees of intensity, of the pre-selected information
elements (10) or unselected (information elements such as menu
dishes (3), categories (4) (ingredients, etc.) and/or subcategories
(5) contained in said navigation map (2)).
FIG. 2 shows the same navigation map (2) as in FIG. 1, in which the
user has pre-selected the ingredients "vegetables" and "duck"
operated by the Intersection search operator (13) and where, in
addition, the user has pre-selected the dish "3-seasons rice"
individually. The result of said pre-selection includes the dishes
(10): "imperial duck", "peasant's duck" and "3-seasons rice". Once
this pre-selection has taken place if the user activates the "Go!"
search process activation operator (11), a more exhaustive
information on the 3 previously mentioned dishes (10) will be
shown, since said dishes are the only ones which satisfy all search
criteria.
The means to implement the Information Visual Search and
Pre-Selection System (9) consist of routine or programs written in
event-oriented programming languages, so that they are governed by
pre-selected events activated by the user and, optionally, depend
on a time function. To this end, programming languages such as
Visual Basic, Visual C, C and Java could be used.
Said routines or programs may be either contained in the layer of
the navigation interface which resides in the user's terminal (14),
or can be downloaded to said terminal from the layer of the
navigation interface which resides in the information provider
system (16).
An optional element of the Information Visual Search and
Pre-Selection System (9) consists of an activation button or
operator (11) belonging to the "Go!" search process which, when
activated by the user, proceeds to send the search request itself
according to the information elements that have been previously
pre-selected (10) (menu dishes, ingredients, etc.)
The query (12) (see FIG. 3) consists of sending a computer file (to
the information provider) containing all the requirements for the
search. The means to carry out said query (12) are routines or
programmes (written in Visual Basic, Visual C, C, Java, or any
other language) which write a file, in a language compatible with
the database to be accessed, containing all the information
elements (3,4) that have been pre-selected (as well as any other
information which could be considered of interest) to be able to
extract the requested information (8) from said database (17) and
send it to the user who requested it for presentation, with all the
search and COSSS criteria, as well as their relationships,
remaining implicitly and/or explicitly present.
Said query (12) could be written in SQL, DB2, Access, text or any
other access language for databases (17).
(The information extraction process form the database (17) itself
is not a part of the present invention). Presentation System (7)
for the Requested Information (8):
Once the navigation interface layer residing in the user's terminal
(14) receives all the information found (18) by the provider (in
this case the restaurant chain), its basic mission consists of
presenting the user with the following: The extracted information
(which obeys the criteria as defined by the System for
Pre-selection and Visual Search of Information (9)), A new
navigation map (2) (to carry out a more in-depth categorization,
for example to select to which restaurant in question the order
will be made, or select the method of payment, etc.) invoking once
again the Multidimensional Ordering and Presentation System (1) to
generate the subsequent Navigation Map, or A combination of both
(the extracted information and a new navigation map).
The means for implementing the Presentation System (7) for the
Requested Information (6) include a routine or program which
operates as a sequential state machine and, as such, operates in
accordance to the current search state, previous search states (19)
and to the type of information extracted. Said routine or program
may be implemented in a programming language such as Visual Basic,
Visual C, C or Java; so that it can process data files (8) which
contain the request information in a language such as SQL, DB2,
Access, text or any other language oriented to accessing databases
(17).
Considering each of the previously mentioned elements of the
invention in greater detail, it should be remarked that the Dynamic
Navigation Interface allows navigation based on a sensory interface
(graphic, auditory, etc.) in which: The menu dishes, ingredients,
etc. or information elements (3,4):
Can represent information of different nature in a same navigation
map; these are displayed as shapes, images or geometric or sensory
elements, by means of their spatial distribution, affinity or
sensory association, using analogies with real or abstract displays
of elements such as: logos, corporate images or elements of the
former, display of systems in general, natural or artificial,
figurative or conceptual, simple or complex, random, cause-effect
or with perceivable ranges of other sensory stimuli.
In addition, and as an aid prior to the information search, (see
FIG. 4), the user has extra information areas (24) available which
are displayed when positioning the mouse pointer (23) (or
equivalent element) on a certain element (such as the "Weight"
category (4) of a clock) and which supply additional information
about the content of said element; this makes saving time possible
as it allows information to be discriminated before accessing it,
or accessing it in a more selective manner as the deeper layers of
COSSS and pre-selection and selection possibilities can be
optionally activated. This functionality is performed by one or
various computer routines written in an event-oriented programming
language of choice, such as Visual Basic, Visual C, Java or any
other event oriented code. Information access nodes (3) are
organised in open or closed categories (4):
This is, they are categorised according to one or more criteria
which can be dependent, related or independent of each other. This
is a multi-dimensional categorisation in which the dimensions or
categories (4) can overlap each other and be linearly independent
or not. Categorization of the information access nodes (3) is
achieved by sensory designs (6) (graphic, auditory, tactile,
olfactory, etc.), in accordance to one or more simultaneous
criteria or dimensions (multi-dimensional):
These categorisation criteria are based on relationships between
the elements to be classified. These relationships may be of
different kinds: mathematical, by order, alphabetical, by priority,
qualitative, quantitative, sequential, methodological, by group,
ideological, functional, temporary, numerical, physical, chemical,
by Venn sets, simple or complex, conditional, functional,
constructive, by origin, by brand, limited, unlimited, by criteria,
relationships or characteristics of the elements or of the
relationship among them inferred directly or indirectly from the
same graphic-visual content which supports it, whether directly or
by analogy. To implement a graphic distinction or categorisation of
the information access nodes (3):
Euclidean space elements of any dimension are used, combining them
with any type of graphic or sensory resources, especially colour
codes, textures, patterns, thickness, flashing, resources to
increase or reduce visibility in general, sensory-visual-graphic
relationships between elements (geometric, contrast, by analogies,
. . . ) and Euclidean geometry in general.
Also used are associated sensory impulses, such as sounds,
associated frequencies and sequencing and combination of the same.
It also considers the use of sensory impulses associated with
pre-selection levels in the sensory fields of taste, smell and
touch, already in development in the area of virtual reality and
"MMI" (Man-Machine Interface). Although the implementation method
of said sensory impulses are not part of the present invention,
said sensory impulses are perfectly manageable by the present
invention as long as the adequate transducers allowing
transformation of digitalised data (1's and 0's) into elements
appreciable to the human being (images, sounds, smells . . . ) are
available. The Multidimensional Ordering and Presentation System
(1) for generating a navigation map (2) in which the information
access nodes (3) (or menu dishes) are displayed in a
distinguishable and categorized manner. This navigation map (3) can
be generated automatically (by programming) according to the type
of information to be shown, from the previous search states (19) or
from specific parameters of configuration established by the user,
the provider or both.
The means to implement said graphic distinction or categorisation
automatically include Lineal Programming tools and algorithms which
allow the graphic representation of multidimensional Euclidean and
algebraic spaces, such as flat surfaces, surfaces of revolution,
ruled surfaces, complex curves, imaginary spaces, infinite and
discontinuous functions, etc. so that all the overlapping and
dependency constraints between categories (4), subcategories (5)
and the information access nodes (3) are included in the navigation
map (2). All or some of the elements which form the
Multidimensional Ordering and Presentation System (1) may either be
contained in the navigation interface layer residing in the user's
terminal (14), or be downloaded to said terminal from the
navigation interface layer residing in the information provider's
remote system (16). The Multidimensional Ordering and Presentation
System (1) for generating a Navigation Map (2) also allows the
inclusion of advertising (25) in determined areas in accordance to
the segmentation (20) carried out for each user profile in question
(by means of one of the files known "cookies" which contains
information about the search routines of the user and which are
read by servers called "ad-servers" in charge of inserting the
adequate advertising elements (25) in the areas provided for this
purpose in the navigation map (2)). As mentioned when describing
the Multidimensional Ordering and Presentation System (1) for
generating a Navigation Map (2), the symbols which correspond to
the search operators (13) (algebraic, Boolean, Venn, conditional or
of any other kind) which allow pre-selecting the desired elements,
do not have to be displayed in said navigation map (2). In this
case, and according to one of the possible embodiments of the
Information Visual Search and Pre-Selection System (9), in order to
pre-select, unselect, or carry out any operation with a given
element of information (3,4,) it is enough to approach the mouse
pointer (23) (or equivalent element) to said element and use one of
the buttons of said mouse (or any input peripheral associated to
any Man-Machine Interface or Sensory User Interface) by means of
different combinations (click, double-click, activation sequence
and/or frequency of said buttons) which respond to each one of the
possible operations on each of the elements (category and
information access nodes).
The means in charge of supporting this entire functionality include
routines or programmes written in event-oriented programming
languages resident in the Pre-Selection System (9). In one of the
possible embodiments of the invention, the Information Visual
Search and Pre-selection System (9) has event-oriented routines or
programmes which, when positioning the mouse pointer (23) (or
equivalent element) on a certain category (4) or information access
node (3), will endow the element with mathematical functions which
could be operated like the rest of the operator of said
Pre-Selection System (9). In this way it is possible to select
information access nodes (3) or categories (4) along with
quantitative entities (such as price, number, weight, etc.). In
another of the possible embodiments of the invention, when
prioritising, ordering or weighting the importance of the different
extracted information elements after the search is carried out, the
Information Visual Search and Pre-selection System (9) has routines
and programmes which allow (separately or in combined manner): The
user to establish the order in which the information (result of the
search) should be displayed by establishing a sequence or order of
priority for each of the information access nodes (3) (or a subset
of these). The system itself to order or truncate (up to a maximum
number) the information (result of the search) by means of a series
of evaluation criteria (configurable or fixed) among which are: the
content of the information heading, the content of the sections or
categories in which said information is classified, "key" words
(visible or not) contained in said information, discrimination by
plurals, capital letters, accents, etc. In both cases, the means
supporting said functionality include routines and programmes which
attach to the text file containing the rest of the query data, the
ordering, prioritisation or sequencing data written in a language
compatible with the database (17) to be accessed. In this way, when
the database receives said file it will have all the necessary
information to extract the requested information (8) in an orderly
and/or prioritised manner, in accordance with the specifications
established by the user and/or the system. As previously described
(see FIG. 2), while the user is pre-selecting the information
elements (3, 4) (dishes, ingredients, type of cuisine, etc.) with
which to carry out the search, the Pre-Selection System (9)
displays the information elements (3, 4) (dishes, ingredients, type
of cuisine, etc.) which the user is pre-selecting (or unselecting)
in the navigation map (2) by a sensory intensification or dimming
(visual, auditory, olfactory, etc.) of said elements (3, 4) in
varying degrees or states. These states include, at least: total or
partial illumination, total or partial shut-off, total or partial
enabling or disabling, etc. and direct access to the information
pointed to by an information access node (3). The Dynamic
Navigation Interface also has editable configuration files allowing
the user to select among different sensory levels of man-machine
accessibility, both qualitative (visual, auditory, etc.) and
quantitative (sizes, colour, brightness, contrast, volume,
language, etc.) to be used depending on the user's preferences or
handicaps. The Dynamic Navigation Interface may be integrated
within a traditional Browser endowed with the "Bookmarks" function,
so that accessing this function of the traditional browser would
invoke routines and programmes for calling the Dynamic Navigation
Interface of the present invention, which would either be directly
executed (if the Interface resides within the user's system (14) or
PC), or would connect with the remote system (16) of the navigator
provider for its download to the user's PC (if the Interface does
not reside within the user's PC). The Multidimensional Ordering and
Presentation System (1) for the Navigation Map (2) can additionally
have means to allow the user to move all or part of the navigation
map (2), in order to reveal or conceal certain parts of it. This
movement can involve translation, rotation, approaching,
distancing, separation, union, etc. These functionalities would be
useful, for example, when the navigation map (2) adopts a spheroid
shape. To support this movement functionality the Multidimensional
Ordering and Presentation System for the Navigation Map will have
computer routines written in Visual Basic, Visual C, C, java or any
other computer language allowing to process information
graphically. Finally, it should be highlighted that as the Dynamic
Navigation Interface manages information stored in a digitalised
form (1's and 0's), the type of information that said Interface is
able to manage includes, among others: text, images, audio, video
or any other type of information that can be transported by
electronic, magnetic, optical, radio-frequency means or by any
other method.
As an extension of the basic operation of the invention described
at the beginning of the present section, the following Dynamic
Navigation Interface operation models can also be described:
Operation in Parallel (see FIG. 4):
Whenever two or more navigation maps (2, 21, 22) allow selecting
information elements (3, 4) according to multiple types of
categories (4) or selection criteria. As this is a multidimensional
system, these categories (4) may be categorised themselves into
super-categories (with their corresponding overlaps and dependency
relationships), and so on. In this way, a combined search can be
carried out according to the criteria specified in one, several or
all of the navigation maps (2, 21, 22) available simultaneously.
This leads to a greater searching power.
In the case shown in FIG. 4, and depending on the search process
activation operator (11) "Go!" activated by the user, the search
process will consider the criteria specified in the navigation
submap on the left (21) (left-hand Go! operator), the criteria
specified in the navigation submap on the right (22) (right-hand
Go! operator), or the criteria specified in both navigation submaps
(2, 21, 22) (central Go! operator). Operation in Series:
Corresponds to a dynamic system where a selection of information
elements (3, 4) (information access nodes (3) or categories (4))
activates, in turn, another navigation map (2) which depends on the
selection. This second navigation map is generated by the
Multidimensional Ordering and Presentation System (1) after being
invoked, in turn, by the Requested Information (8) Presentation
System (7), which as previously explained is implemented by means
of a sequential state machine or program which, as such, operates
according to the type of information extracted, the current search
state, previous search states (19) and other parameters such as
configurable and fixed parameters, depending on time elapsed, on
position of the mouse pointer (23) (or equivalent element), etc.
Dependent Simultaneous Operation:
Whenever two or more navigation maps (2) or sub-maps operate
simultaneously in a conditioned manner; that is, whenever one or
several such navigation maps change content depending on the
pre-selection state of the information elements (3, 4) (categories
(4) or information access nodes (3)) established by the user in one
of the other maps. Combined Operation:
Allows the combination of any of the previously described
operations and the implementation of multiple combined complex
dynamic systems, provided with a capacity to calculate, pre-select,
select and categorise with an exponentionally growing search
power.
The previously-described means for implementing the operation
models are identical to those described above for the operation of
the system based on a single navigation map, with the exception
that each of the sub-systems that include each of the said
navigation maps communicates with the rest by means of a system of
interruptions and/or message queue which manages the messages
between said sub-systems. These messages consist of text files
specifying at least one of the following elements: subsystem of
origin of the message, destination subsystem of the message,
information to be provided to the destination subsystem and queries
sent to the destination subsystem of the message.
* * * * *